Classification 7: Kidnapping
This classification was opened following the June 2, 1932 act of Congress commonly called the "Lindbergh Act" or "Kidnapping Act." The law conferred primary investigative jurisdiction on the FBI under three conditions:
- A person had been unlawfully seized
- A person had been transported across state lines
- A person was held for ransom or reward
In addition, the law made the conspiracy to kidnap a violation. Because it was difficult to determine whether state lines had been crossed, the Bureau and the Department of Justice agreed that after seven days the Bureau could presume that there had been interstate transportation. In the 1956 amendment of the Act, Congress reduced the presumptive period to one day.
NARA holdings for Classification 7: Kidnapping
The following records under Classification 7: Kidnapping are not yet described in NARA's online catalog. Please contact NARA's Special Access Program at specialaccess_FOIA@nara.gov with your reference request.
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